Our country solemnly remembers September 11, 2001, honoring the lives lost and the resilient spirit that arose in the aftermath of that fateful day. Twenty-three years later, the passage of time has not dimmed our commitment never to forget the national tragedy that struck so close to home.
Each year, the school community comes together in prayer and recalls, in a special way, Helen Crossin-Kittle ‘85, the only Ursuline alumna who was among those lost on that tragic day 23 years ago. Helen, who was expecting her first child, worked as a computer specialist at Cantor Fitzgerald - eSpeed in 1 World Trade Center. With a talent for coding, she was an original Ursuline “Woman of Tech” long before it became an essential component of a 21st-century education.
Five years ago, in 2019, the school community was deeply honored to receive one of only forty-one oak saplings from the World Trade Center Oak Project. These saplings, which began as acorns from oak trees surrounding the September 11 Memorial in lower Manhattan, contain the spirit of resilience and hope that emerged from the ashes of tragedy.
Last week, the treasured sapling, which had outgrown its original container, was replanted outside the Innovation Hub. It is expected to grow to heights reaching 80 feet, symbolizing a quiet source of strength for generations of Ursuline girls. It will serve as a prominent, living symbol of hope, strength, and resiliency, a testament to the enduring spirit of our community.
Maura ‘27, the third recipient of the Helen Crossin-Kittle ‘85 Memorial Scholarship, stands alongside the treasured sapling which was planted in Helen's honor.
Helen Crossin-Kittle ‘85 Memorial Scholarship
Helen’s memory continues to live on at The Ursuline School with the Helen Crossin-Kittle ‘85 Memorial Scholarship. Her classmates established the scholarship to honor her memory and provide financial assistance to an Ursuline student who is the daughter of a veteran, active military, first responder, or 9/11 family member.
On this solemn anniversary, we honor Helen’s enduring legacy and all those who died as a result of the terror attacks. May the once tender sapling continue to grow and inspire us to work towards a world where peace, understanding, and compassion prevail.
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